Ridley Student/Parent Handbook
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RIDLEY STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK 1 Message from the Headmaster Weekend Leave and Holiday Policy Mid-Term Breaks 2 Message from the Head of the Upper School Travel Reservations Buses to/from London/Sarnia and Toronto 3 Community Structure School Responsibility Houses Travel in S.t Cathairne and Region Upper School Houses Housemasters 9 Parent Visits Day Students Day Student Routines 10 Community Appearance Role of Advisor Uniforms Leadership Chapel Prefectship Expectations House Captains Lower School Leadership 12 Student Support Services and Resources Dining Halls 5 Community Expectations and Policies Great Hall The Ridley Value System Breakfast/Lunch with the Headmaster Residential Life and Expectations Williams Hall Rooms Mail Services Roommates Laundry and Sewing Rooms Respect Hanks Co-Op Store Expectations Clothing Exchange Room Decorations Health Services Storage Schmon Health Centre House Safety Sick Students Keys Medications Protection of Valuables Medical Updates Travel and Holidays Medical Leaves Overnight leaves High Risk Behaviour Special Occasion Leaves Healthy Heating Saturday Night Leaves (within St. Catharines) Therapy Clinic for Injuries Overnight Stays for Day Students Safety Weekend Leave and Holiday Policy Campus Safety Mid-Term Breaks Fire Drills Travel Reservations Lockdown Procedure Buses Security Cameras School Responsibility Travel in St. Catharines and the Region 16 Academics Parent Visits Schedule Visits School Year Contacting Students at School Lower School Daily Schedule Parents’ Days Upper School Daily Schedule Co-Curricular Excepttions 7 Travel and Holidays Community Service Overnight Leaves Expectations and Policies Special Occasion Leaves Academic Programme Saturday Night Leaves Course Selection Overnight Stays Class Attendance: Upper and Lower Schools Student Evaluation Process 25 Extracurricular Opportunities and Student Student Evaluations Activities Letter Grading System Co-Curricular Expectations Academic Records Community Service Student Progress Reporting House Competitions Effort Grades Bermuda Cup Competitions: Upper School Boys Examinations Bradley Shield Competitions: Upper School Girls Excellent Standing Cadets Academic Resources Activities Matthews Library Prizes and Awards McLaughlin Resource Centre Upper School Prizes Tutorial Periods Evening Study 28 Finances Credit Card Charges 19 Major Rules Electronic Payment School Conduct and Expectations New Student Enrollment Fees Major Rules of the School Tuition Refund Plan Discipline System Health and Accident Insurance Major Discipline Procedures Monthly Statements Sanctions Cash Advances Green Gatings Bank Accounts Red Gatings Suspension 30 Advancement Social Probation The Annual Fund Academic Probation . Dismissal 30 The Ridley College Association Bullying The Ridley Family Sexual Activity and Expectations The Ridley College Association . Alcohol Association Executive Officers First and Second Offense The Ridley College Family Guild Tobacco Family Guild Officers Drugs Drug Testing 32 Useful Contact Information Alcohol and Drug Response Support Strategy Canine Search 40 School Traditions Room Search 23 Technology Acceptable Use Policy 23 Athletics Participation Special Project Seasons Safety Measures while Playing Sports Dear Parents and Ridleians Welcome to Ridley College and thank you for joining as we celebrate our 125th school year. I am hopeful that what lies ahead for all of us is a year filled with learning, happiness and service. A special Ridley welcome to all our new students and families. At Ridley, I believe you will discover lifelong friendships, the joy of learning, an impressive variety of activities and a community of caring adults who are devoted to your personal growth and happiness. This handbook is your ‘vade mecum’ – use it wisely. It will assist you throughout your time at Ridley and, most especially, in the opening weeks and months of the school year. While we expect you to familiarize yourself to the entire handbook, may I emphasize a few points for you: 1. The sooner you manage to organize your life, the better. Ridley moves at a rapid pace and that demands advanced planning and discipline. Your self-discipline is very important. Good manners, tidy appearance and a readiness to throw oneself into all that Ridley offers is the best recipe for success and happiness at this school. You’re not alone in this challenge; we are here to help. 2. Please take advantage of the various support systems that exist on campus to help you. In particular, may I draw your attention to the sections on the Health Services and our Academic Expectations. In addition, carefully review the important section on Student Contact. Please approach any member of the faculty or staff for help. Your Housemasters , Advisors, Guidance Counsellors, Health Centre staff and the School Chaplain - reach out, we are here to help you. 3. Relationships should be formed on mutual respect. We promote community values so that we can live in harmony with each other. Behavioral expectations revolve around “The Honour Code”. You should observe the common sense set of rules which exist to make this a better community. 4. Many events at Ridley are occasions where we raise school spirit. Our school colours are Orange and Black and our mascot is the Tiger. A symbol of the Ridley spirit, “Hank” is a magnificent statue in front of School House. Becoming a part of the Tiger spirit is what it means to be a Ridleian. Go Tigers Go! In welcoming every family, may I commend to you the happy atmosphere of this place. We have fine facilities, beautiful grounds and a peaceful campus ambience. Within this idyllic setting exists for each of you, the opportunity for a world-class education, lasting friendships, and the chance to pursue your passions. Best wishes and enjoy a wonderful school year. Yours sincerely, Edward Kidd Headmaster. 1 Dear Students and Parents: I would like to extend to you a warm welcome to the Upper School. The Upper School is a truly unique and exciting “school within a school”. Students can look forward to classes that are small and intimate. They will work with teachers who will challenge and inspire. And, they will be given massive numbers of opportunities to try new things and learn new skills as athletes, artists, actors, and in service to others. This Upper School Handbook is a useful resource for both students and parents. It will give you a good sense of just how rich and robust the programme is, and where you can find your place within it. Prior to arriving on campus, I would encourage you to sit down as a family and familiarize yourself with the Handbook. Some highlights to focus on include: • Learning to live in Community • Student Support Services and Resources • The Academic programme • Athletics • Co-curricular opportunities • and School traditions. You should also know that the Ridley College Family Guild (RCFG) plays a vital role in the success of Ridley. Volunteering to support the students, faculty and staff and offering assis - tance to Ridley families, the RCFG is integral to the fabric of the school community. Please follow this link: https://www.ridleycollege.com/podium/default.aspx?t=137718 for an informa - tive letter with details and dates from the RCFG President. So, please take the time to browse through these pages. As always, if you have questions regarding any component of the Upper School program, you are most welcome to contact me at 905 684 1889 ext. 2205 or [email protected]. Sincerely, Stephen A. Clarke Head of Upper School 2 COMMUNITY STRUCTURE HOUSES Upper School Houses All Upper School students, both boarding and day, are assigned to one of the nine residences to create a sense of a family within the larger school community. Within the residence, stu - dents are accountable to the Housemaster. The Assistant Housemaster and House Duty team, comprised of members of Faculty, Residential Dons, and senior students, assist the Housemaster in the daily operation of the residence. Each residence provides a common room area with a TV, as well as an area where appli - ances may be used for light snacks. Although the housekeeping service maintains the com - mon areas of the residence and carries out basic cleaning in the students’ rooms, it is the responsibility of the students to keep residence rooms neat and presentable. Each House es - tablishes a routine for the inspection of rooms; students are expected to comply with these standards. Role of the Housemaster Housemasters and their families live in houses attached to the residences and are responsi - ble for monitoring student progress and development in all areas of school life. It is vital that a relationship of trust exists between the student and his or her Housemaster. A Housemas - ter is responsible for their students’ whereabouts, so leaves and most permissions are sought from the student’s Housemaster. Housemasters also have considerable experience in dealing with issues that face adolescents, so students can approach their Housemasters with any questions regarding school life. DAY STUDENTS Day Students make up about one third of the Ridley community, and we make a serious ef - fort to ensure they are integrated into the daily life of the school. Each Day Student is pro - vided with a desk, a bookshelf, and, where possible, a wardrobe in his or her assigned residence for a small amount of clothing. There are numerous afternoon and evening sports and activities that are an important part of the fabric of school life. Day Students are expected to stay on campus for at least the first hour of evening study for a minimum of three evenings per week. When exceptions need to be arranged, parents should speak with the student’s Housemaster. Many Day Students spend more nights than the minimum at school, and it is possible—during busy times or because of special school commitments—to sleep over. Arrangements for sleeping over must be made with the student’s Housemaster. Day Student Routines Day Students are expected to arrive on the campus early enough in the morning to organize books prior to Chapel at 8:25 a.m.